Adam keeps driving south through rain-slick streets. Mara braces the laptop and encrypted drive across her knees, opening the copied access logs while storefronts blur past.
Mara Voss
These timestamps are live. Someone used a contractor account less than ten minutes ago, while Leon was still in the garage.
The records list repeated access attempts against Adam's apartment, followed by a transfer authorization. Mara scrolls faster, her face tightening in the laptop's cold glow.
Mara Voss
The account belongs to Victor Hale. He is the regional operations director, not some technician covering his tracks.
In the side mirror, a dark sedan takes the same turn, then the next. Its headlights remain steady until Mara looks up and recognizes the pattern.
Mara Voss
That is the car from the garage. It accelerated when I said Hale's name. Adam, they know we have the files.
The sedan closes the distance through the rain. Mara shuts the laptop halfway, keeping one hand on the drive as the next intersection approaches.
✓ Quest Accepted
Escape the pursuing sedan
✓ Quest Accepted
Expose Victor Hale's role in the breach
“"start running, got it. good thing i had some car buddies in high school... here goes!" i gun it, and start driving like hell- sliding and wheel spinning all over because of the rain, but moving far, far faster than i had been before.”
SUCCESS (Superb Driving, rolled +1)
Adam Thorne
Start running, got it. Good thing I had some car buddies in high school. Here goes!
Adam guns the engine. The tires spin across the rain-slick lane, then catch, throwing the car forward as the sedan's headlights flare in the mirror.
Mara Voss
Adam, keep the car pointed straight. Faster is useful, but do not give the road a reason to stop us.
He drives hard through the intersection, the rear end sliding wide before the steering correction brings it back. Water sprays from the tires as storefronts smear into colored bands.
Mara Voss
The sedan is losing ground. Take Franklin south, then use the access road by the river.
Adam cuts through the next opening, wheel spinning again as the car surges ahead. The pursuing sedan follows too late, trapped behind a line of traffic.
Mara Voss
We are clear. Keep moving, but ease off before we trade one problem for a crash.
Quest Complete
Escape the pursuing sedan
“i keep the pressure on, pulling on old experience from driving far worse cars on in far worse conditions for fun. we keep moving fast as we get closer and closer to our destination at speed.”
SUCCESS (Superb Driving, rolled +2)
Adam keeps the pressure steady, drawing on old experience with worse cars, worse weather, and roads treated like private challenges. The sedan fades behind them.
Mara Voss
Good. Hold this pace. The river access road is clear, and we are close enough that they cannot easily predict our next turn.
Franklin's storefronts give way to warehouses and chain-link fences. Adam threads through the wet industrial streets, maintaining speed without surrendering control.
Mara Voss
Take the next right, then follow the service road under the bridge. There is a public maintenance lot ahead with cameras we can use.
The car sweeps beneath the bridge, tires hissing over standing water. Beyond its concrete supports, the maintenance lot appears beside the dark river, its lamps burning through rain.
Mara Voss
There. Pull into the far row, nose toward the exit. We made it before they could box us in.
Adam reaches the far row with the engine still running. Mara lifts the laptop and encrypted drive from her knees, then studies the empty access road.